Suspended electric conductor



(No Model,) 2 SheetsSheet 1. G. J. VAN DEPOELE.

SUSPENDED ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR. No. 344,425. Patented June 29, 1886.

Wit mauve la w autoa Z60. Charles .f mnflepoele M y w E Z N. PETERS.Pholwh hognphor. Wamingum EC- Nirnn STATES SUSPENDED ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,425, dated June 29,1886. Application filed January 9, 1886. Serial No. 188,126. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems ofSuspended Electric Conductors, of which the following is a description.

The present invention relates to various improvements in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of electric railways, and more particularlyto the system shown and described in an application filed by me October26, 1885, Serial N 0. 180,988, and the particulars thereof will behereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a planwiew of an electricrailway arranged according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an eleyation indetail showing the means of supportlug the conductor on curves. Fig. 3is a plan view of a conductor and its supports as arranged upon curvesof comparatively large radius. Fig. 4 shows one of the hangers ad- 3ustably insulated, by which the curved portion of the conductor issupported. Fig. 5 shows the central insulator,to which the lateralsupports are secured at curves. Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly insection, showing the main conductor, its support, a cover therefor, atravehng contact, and an insulating device from which the parts aresuspended. Fig. 7 is an end view of What is shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 8, 9,and 10 are details showing various forms of traveling contact. Fig. 11is a detail showing themethod of attaching the tension-rods to the mainconductor at the beginning ofa curve in one direction, and Fig. 12 is asimilar view of thedevice used when the curve is in the oppositedirection. Fig. 13 shows the main conductor and one of its supports asarranged when the support is not secured to the conductor. Fig. It showsthe conductor and one of its fixed supports.

Similar letters denote like parts.

A represents a street, B and 0 being crossstreets.

D is the track traversing the streets A, B, and O, and E is an electricconductor following the line of said track.

E represents the line of the curb, near which are planted suitable poleson opposite sides of the street, which poles are provided withinsulating-caps a, to which are secured suitable metallic rods or wires,6, extending across the street transversely of the track at a suitableheight and for the purpose of supporting the conductor. At theintersection of streets, as also where the track would for any cause berequired to make a sharp turn, poles are to be placed at all fourcorners, as indicated by the numbers12 3 4, from which are strung wires,cables, or rods (1, which unite in the center, and are securedtoasuitableinsulator, D, to which are also secured, by suitablestirrups, e, the tension-rods F, which are provided with turnbucklesf,and connected to the main conductor E at each end of all curves; and itwill be read ily understood that the straight sections of the mainconductor are longitudinally secured wholly from these tension-rods, thetension of the conductor being readily adjusted, according tocircumstances, by means of the turnbuckles f, the insulator D beingsecurely held by the system of poles and guys already de scribed.

G is a conical or rounded insulator, consisting of a block of wood whichhas been boiled in paraffine, and is provided with upper and loworhooks, 9g, which are firmly screwed thereinto, there being at least aninch of solid wood between their respective ends. Any other equallysuitable material may, however, be used for the insulator,which is thensuspended from the cross-rods I). From the lower hook, g, of theinsulator depends a suspender, II, which is so curved over to one sideas to leave its central line free, as shown, to accommodate and allowthe passage of the traveling contact upon the conductor E, which issupported upon the upper surface of bail I, one of which is secured tothe lower extremity of each of the suspenders H. A continuous lightmetallic cover or root, J, is placed above the suspenders H, beingsecured thereto in any convenient manner, and it may be continuousthroughout the line, so that the cover itself may assist the mainconductor in conveying the current, all the metallic parts of the systemdirectly connected with the conductor being in metallic contact. Thecover may, however, be so arranged as to extend over the suspendersonly. It is neither necessary nor desirable that the main conductorshould be rigidly fixed at each point of suspension,

as every such fixed point increases the difficulty of maintaining anequal tension throughout the line. Therefore bails soldered to theconductor are only used at intervals of a quarter or half mile, or asthe requirements of practice show to be necessary, and at allintermediate points of support bails I, as shown in Fig. 13, are used.The bails themselves are rigidly secured to the suspenders, the onlydifference in structure being that'their upper gooved edge is curved toaccommodate the slack of the conductor,instead of bein gstraight, orsubstantially so, as in the case'of the bails I, which are permanentlysecured to, the conductor. The peripheral groove may also be somewhatdeeper in the bails 1 than in those which are permanently attached tothe conductor.

It will readily be understood from the description thus far given thatall the supports:

for the main conductor must be attached at the same side, no matter whatthe direction of the necessary curves.

In Fig. 11 is shown the means for. attaching thetension-rod F for acurve of onedirectiony and it consists of a flat bar or anchorage-plate,

K, to which the rod F is attached, and to which.

are also secured the two or more bails I, conof suspension, theconductor curving away from said point;

In Fig. 12, the bar K, instead of passing under the conductor, as doesthe bar K, is

attached thereto at the same side, and'is provided with a suspender,also attached to orv formed integral therewith.

passes over the conductor, which goes off in a.

reversed curve underneath the frame K,

provided with bails I, as is the plate K. In order to carry theconductor round sharp curves, and to preserve curved lines of.sufficient ease to prevent undue strain on the contact carriage, withthe consequent liability of said carriage leaving its tracks, as wouldbe the case were the conductor carried in a straight line from eachpoint of suspension,-I use a light steel curve plate or strip, L, whichis permanently curved in the desired direction, and provided at itsupper edge with a number of small cars, Z, which are permanently securedto the conductor. This plate is then connected to the ordinarysuspender, H. In the case of sharp curves the plate L is carried all theway around,a suitable number of suspenders H being attached thereto; buton short curves one will be found sufti- -cient, asindicated in Fig. 4',this suspender being attached directly to a plate, L, of insulatingmaterial, secured to the guy-rod d. In

It then rises and the curve into a number of obtuse angles, eas

ily traversed by traveling contact.

In the previous application hereinbefore referred to by me the conductorwas wholly suspended from cars, which in turn were secured to theoverhead structure.

Great variations of temperature are apt to injure soldered joints orconnections, dependence on which I have sought to obviate by the'present invention, according to which,it will be observed, but few suchconnections are re-. quired, as they are only an absolute necessity atcurves,and in a few other placessay every quarter or half mileto preventthe conductor falling to theground in case of breakage.

Various forms of traveling contact are shown, consisting of a deeply-gooved metal- 'lic wheel, M, resting directly upon and above theconductor. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a

single wheel is used, from the axis of which depends a weighted arm, m,to the extremity of' which is attached a flexible conductor,N,

by which the current is conveyed to the translating devices upon thevehicle to.be propelled'.

In Fig. 10 is shown a carriage having two contact-wheels, M, and asupplemental arm, m, towhich the flexible conductor is attached. nectingit to the conductor, under which it passes, being connected to thetension rod, which extends in a straightline from the point In Fig. 9acarriage having a series of pairs of wheels is shown, the said wheelsgrasping the conductor from opposite sides, and being united acrosstheir upper side and above the conductor by a piece or pieces N, ofnon-resilient material.

In Fig. 8 is shown a carriage particularly adapted to higher speeds, themain contactwheel M being provided with small side "Wheels, 0, whichbearing laterally against the :conductor from both sides, as shown inFig. 9, 'hold the wheel M in position thereon. which is here shown assecured to the curveplate L; but it can be continued back and overheadconductors, one being used' for the return and each insulated from theother and from the ground; 7

The method of and means for switching from one track to another are notherein described, as they will form the subject-matter of anotherapplication.

The contact-carriage having both horizontal and vertical wheels pressingupon the conductor, as shown inFig. 8, is not herein claimed, as itforms part of the subject-matter of a separate application for LettersPatent.

Havingdescribed my invention, what I claim is 1'. In a system ofelectric conductors, the combination, with the track or tracks of arailway, said track including rev'ersely-curved portions withinitslength,tof a conductor or conductors supported from below, tensiondevices for keeping taut the straight portions of the conductor, saidtension devices being secured to the conductor,and extending from oneside thereof for a curve of one direction, and secured at the sameside,but bridging the conductor, when the curve is in the oppositedirection, thereby freeing the same side of the conductor throughout theline, substantially as set forth.

2. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, withthe conductor E, suitable tension devices,and supports therefor, of ananchorageplate, K, and means, consisting of upwardlyextending bailsattaehed thereto and to the conductor, for se curing one end of saidplate to the conductor, and the suspender H, for vertically supportingthe anchorageplate and conductor, substantially as described.

3. In a system of suspended electric conductors,the combination,with aconductor supported from below, ofsuspending devices all arranged uponthe same side thereof, a contact traveling upon said conductor, andhaving an arm for connection with the traveling conductor, said armdepending from the side opposite to the supports, and tension devicesfor keeping taut the straight portions ofthe conductor,said tensiondevices being connected to anchorageconnections secured to theconductor, and extending from one side thereof for a curve of onedirection, and secured to the same side, but bridging said conductor,when the curve is in the opposite direction, thereby freeing the path ofthe depending arm, as set forth.

4. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, withthe conductor, tension devices, and suitable supports therefor, of ananchorage device secured to the tension devices,and bridging saidconductor and suitably secured thereto, as set forth.

5. In a system of suspended electric c011- ductors, the combination,with the conductor E, suitable tension devices,and supports therefor, ofan anchorage-plate, K, secured at one end to the tension devices, andbridging the conductor, and a curved plate, L, from which the conductoris supported, and to which the extremities of the anchorage-plate K arepermanentlysecured, as set forth.

6. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, withthe conductor E, having taut straight portions connected by curvedsections from which longitudinal strain is removed, of means forsupporting the said curved sections, consisting, substantially, of rigidplates or strips secured in position below and connected to the curvedportions of the conductor, as set forth.

7. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, withsuitably-secured straight portions of the conductor E, of curved plateor plates L, bails Z, secured thereto and to the conductor, suitablesuspenders, H, and supports therefor, as set forth.

8. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination,withthe supports 1 and 4 and suitable cross-rods, d, of thelongitndinally-adjustableinsulator L, a suspender, H, the curve-plateL,bails Z, and the conductor E, secured thereto, and by means of whichsaid conductor is supported on curves, as shown and described.

9. In a system of suspended electric conductors, theGOIIlbllJithlOll,Wlhll the conductor E, having taut straight portions,of a system of posts at about the center of a curve, guy-rods extendingfrom said posts to a central insulator point, and adjustable tensiondevices extending from said central point to the straight portions ofthe conductor, whereby said straight portions are kept taut, as setforth.

10. In a system of suspended electric cond uctors, the combination, withthe conductor E, of a series of posts, 1 2 3 4, at opposite corners,guy-rods extending from said posts to a central point between them, andthe tensionrods F, provided with turn-buckle f, extending from saidcentral support and connected to the straight portions of the mainconductor, as set forth.

11. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, withthe conductor E, having taut straight portions, of a system of posts atabout the center of a curve, guy-rods extending from said posts to acentral insulated point, adjustable tension devices extending from saidcentral point to the straight portions of the conductor,whereby saidstraight portions are kept taut, and an adjustable support for saidcurved portion attached to one of said guyrods, as set forth.

12. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, withsuitable supports located along the track of the conductor, ofsuspending devices therefor connected thereto, as described, and theinsulator G, as described.

13. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the curved bails I,located below the conductor, in combination with suitable suspender andthe conductor to be supported, as set forth.

14. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the bail I, locatedbelow the conductor, in combination with the conductor E and a suitablesuspender, as set forth.

15. In a system of suspended electric conductors,, a traveling contactconsisting of two or more pairs of contact-wheels arranged to bearhorizontally against opposite sides of the conductor, and united acrosstheir upper sides by a rigid plate, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signa ture in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE. lVitn esses:

RUssnLL S. Barns, ADRIAN J. REMONDINS.

